A Peterborough-based
market-leader in the manufacture of demountable bodies and
powered tail-lifts for the road transport industry is aiming to boost production through the construction
of a new, purpose-built factory.

The Ray Smith Group is ploughing
£3 million into the construction of new premises
on a 7.5 acre site in Fengate, Peterborough. With work scheduled for completion in August, the company
plans to relocate from its existing premises at
Botolph Bridge, Oundle Road.

The company's
expansion has been welcomed by Gloria Milne, chief executive of Greater
Peterborough Investment Agency, who performed the official ground-breaking
ceremony. She said: "This is another demonstration of confidence
in Peterborough's economic expansion by a company which is an acknowledged
leader in its chosen market."

Group chairman Ray
Smith said: "Our new factory will permit us to integrate all
our manufacturing activities under one roof and enable us to step up production to meet continual
increases in demand.

"The streamlined
production facilities will boost our efficiency and assure our
future competitiveness in the face of intense rivalry in the commercial vehicle market and the adverse
trading effects of the strong pound."

The company, which
was founded as Ray Smith Demountables Ltd in 1972, is committed
to the development of products which improve road transport delivery times and minimise operating costs.

Its demountable
container 'swop bodies' have retractable legs which permit them
to be unloaded from truck chassis, allowing the truck to continue in operation while the container is
being filled or emptied.

Its chassis-mounted,
electro-hydraulic cantilever tail-lifts reduce goods delivery
times and eliminate unnecessary manual handling. Another group company
called Garfield Hydrol, which manufactures hydraulic cylinders for the group and other companies, will also
be moving to the new Fengate factory.

Ray Smith added:
"Demand for our productivity-enhancing products is accelerating
as road transport providers search for ways of cutting operating costs
and getting more work out of fewer vehicles."